Academic report design

Academic Report Design

Best Practice Approaches


The Content > Formalities of Codifications

The Grid > The Style of the Space

The Typography > The Style of the Form

1

2

3


The Content > Formalities of Codifications

Examples > ask and find out:

What are the basic, standard requirements for the academic paper? It could be simple content such as table of contents, resume etc.

Are there any codifications of footnotes, pictures and references etc.?It could be the Harvard reference method, endnotes, footnotes etc.What is to be in the appendices and what is best displayed directly in the paper’s progression? Do you have a freedom of choice or are thereany codification to govern this part?

How is one page defined? No matter how a page is defined, say, as 2400 characters including spacing, you must not exceed more than 60 characters per line (and avoid too narrow leading). That means, thatthe page count is not equal to the actual number of layouted pages.

1

1 · a

1 · b

1 · c




Benefits of active, white space vs. a more compact layout?

How to make a well defined layout grid (columns)?

What is the best information structure?

2

2 · a

2 · b

2 · c




2

2 · a

Picture Source: http://www.scottefranson.com/blogs/fall2011/group4/2011/11/11/ex-10-type-color/exercise_type-color-4/




Picture Source: http://joshuahellerrarebooks.com/catalogue/cat-42

2

2 · a

Use a consistent

colour themeto add

contrast and to signify

information structure




2

2 · a

Picture Source: http://www.gngcreative.com/newsletters/nl6.html




2

2 · a

Picture Source: http://brand.britishcouncil.org/visual-identity/typography/a4-portrait-typography/

Brand Guides for The British Council

1. A consistent design element (in this case the strong horizontal line and use of the corporate blue) is adapted and applied considerately across the spread.

2. Two-column grid on an A4 page. This is shown by the pink outlined boxes –which is not part of the design.

3. Running headers (in this case the copy next to the number 3 – ‘Studying English in the UK’) remind the audience of the title of the document and where they are in the document.

4. Images are considerately cropped to show them to their best advantage. Instead of filling this page with text, white space has been left to balance the feel of the page.




2

2 · a

Picture Source: http://brand.britishcouncil.org/visual-identity/typography/a4-landscape-typography/

Brand Guides for The British Council

1. A clear and consistent alignment has been established. All graphic elements (i.e. the tops of the columns of text) all start at the same height on the page.

2. A text-heavy page is balanced by large areas of white space.

3. Running footers are separated from text by a thin line.

4. A large column on the right-hand side of the page is left free to visually balance the two large columns of text on the left.




2

2 · b

FromSketch

To Grid

Picture Source: http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/grid-choices/




2

2 · b

FromSketch

To Grid

Picture Source: zzzzzz




Picture Source: http://www.shrutimaidam.com/typography.html

2

2 · b

FromSketch

To Grid




2

2 · c

Picture Source: David Engelby’s academic paper: http://www.opgavebank.dk/src/ViewArticle.php?id=633




Picture Source: Excerpt from the book Leyers eller Beleyrings Dagverck, typograpic design by David Engelby

2

2 · c

Footnotes:

Use goodSpace.

Let booksInspire you.




2

2 · c

Right page






2

2 · c

Left page




Picture Source: http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0001Zi

2

2 · c

Let booksinspire you

Edward Tufte

is a famousexpert in

informationDesign

(see link)




Picture Source:http://vi.sualize.us/annual_2007_catapult_design_typography_grid_annual_report_picture_xirT.html

2

2 · c

Let magazinesinspire you

A bit riskywith blackbackdrop,

But for some info

pages it adds a

break to the flow of

the text.




Benefits of serif fonts vs. non serif fonts?

The variation of the font family?

The connotation of the font?

3

3 · a

3 · b

3 · c



Benefits of serif fonts vs. non serif fonts?

3

3 · a

Picture Source: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/11/04/best-practices-of-combining-typefaces/



The variation of the font family?

3

3 · b

Picture Source: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/11/04/best-practices-of-combining-typefaces/



The connotation of the font?

3

3 · c

Picture Source: http://blog.typekit.com/category/new-fonts/page/3/ & http://typographica.org/typeface-reviews/expo-serif/


Typography

Grid

Content


Good Resources

Kim Pedersen & Anders Kidmose (1993): In Black and White. An r&d Report on Typography and Legibility.The Graphic College of Denmark.(A publication in both Danish and English. Orig.: Sort på hvidt. En udviklingsrapport om typografi og læselighed. Den Grafiske Højskole 1993)

Hartmut Stöckl (2005):“Typography: body and dress of a text – a signing mode between language and image.” In Visual Communication 4, 2005.

Edward Tufte (2001):The Visual Display of Quantitative Information.Graphics Press USA. 2nd edition.

Robert Bringhurst (2008 ed.)The Elements of Typographic Style.Hartley & Marks Publishers.

And for web:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/02/09/applying-mathematics-to-web-design/

http://webtypography.net/

http://fontdeck.com/